Vet's D-Day trip detoured in city

In town for a short stopover before visiting France, World War II vet and Chicago native Carmen Miceli watched as the cab drove off -- with his bags and passport still in the trunk.

Miceli was on his way Monday to D-Day commemorations in Normandy. With time running out, he needed the bags, or a new passport.

The cab and the bags remained missing Thursday. But Miceli got a new passport; within hours, he was boarding a plane.

"It's the passport that matters," the smiling 87-year-old said.It took legendary coordination to carry off the Allied invasion of France that Miceli was part of 65 years ago. This week, it took effective cooperation to send Miceli on his way again.

In the three days since his bags roared off in the taxi's trunk, an alderman, congressman, hotel workers, State Department officials, reporters and restaurateurs helped Miceli return to Allied beachheads in time for this weekend's commemorative services.

The emergency operation to reissue Miceli's passport tells only part of a tale of strangers working together.

For many, Miceli represents a generation's sacrifice and a means to express gratitude. Besides, as Miceli noted, there may not be many more chances for WW II veterans to make the trip at all.

He was a teen when he left his home near 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue to fight in WW II. He landed at Utah Beach 21 days after D-Day. After the war -- and several stints in veterans hospitals -- he moved to California and founded Miceli's Pizza, still open today.

The former infantry sergeant has been to Normandy to honor fallen comrades several times. "I don't go there to be honored," he said. "I go to honor. ... I go to the cemeteries. I lay a wreath. I do my thing."

He still wears the burgundy lapel pin for the Bronze Star he was awarded while marching across Europe in Patton's Army. A white ball cap with a Purple Heart logo tells others he was wounded in the process.

"But all that doesn't get my luggage back from the trunk of a taxi in Chicago," he noted.

Miceli flew into Chicago on Sunday and spent the night at the Sutton Place Hotel in the River North neighborhood. The next morning, he and a traveling companion climbed into a maroon taxi from Chicago Carriage Cab.

The plan was to visit an old friend then continue to O'Hare International Airport. When they got to the friend's house, Miceli paid the $29 fare and gave a $6 tip. But when he walked toward the trunk, the cab drove off. Things grew busy after that.

Police took a missing property report. Sutton Place Hotel concierge Mark Roberts helped him reach the taxi company, then called the media. Chicago Ald. Robert Fioretti saw the stories and called U.S. Rep. Danny Davis. Davis called State Department offices for an emergency passport, and he sent a car and staff member to drive Miceli there.

Meanwhile, Chicago Carriage Cab offered a $300 reward, and drivers were asked to check their trunks.

They sent a cab Thursday to take Miceli to the airport.

"This, I thought, might be my last visit, so that's why I was so anxious to get this," he said, tapping the passport. His other hand held a list of people who made it happen. He thanked them all, and gave a jaunty wave.